State Democrats announce six-day tour to focus on creating jobs

Created 09/07/2011 - 1:43pm

State House Republicans held hearings Wednesday into burdensome business regulations, and Democrats announced they will go on a statewide tour of Tennessee to talk to the public about how to create jobs here.

“Across the country and here in Tennessee, we are stuck in a jobs crisis, and it’s going to take everyone working together to get us out of it,” House Democratic Leader Craig Fitzhugh said. “Jobs are the number one priority for Tennesseans, and they also must be the top priority for their elected officials.”

Democrats said their six-day tour will include visits to Memphis, Jackson, Murfreesboro, Columbia, McMinnville, Knoxville and Cookeville, among other cities.

The House GOP Small Business and Economic Development Task Force heard from business owners about regulations that they believe are hindering job growth.

The hearing opened with testimony from Richard Skiles, a pharmacist in Kenton. He predicted that within 10 years, community pharmacies will cease to exist because of too many regulations and competition from big companies.

“You won’t find any of us on the street corners anymore,” Skiles said, who employs 11 people at his store. “Regulations are needed. I’m not saying they’re not. But overregulation is not needed.”